You probably have a desktop PC, it’s possible you’ll not wish to put it on the ground for a number of causes: possibly you reside with a toddler who might get curious concerning the performance of the ability button, or with a pet that drops an excessive amount of hair. Possibly you want frequent entry to the motherboard rear connectors, or maybe you merely wish to exhibit your system.
The issue is that your present case, like most circumstances that may match the elements you’ve got, might not appear to be one thing that needs to be on a desk both: in tower-style circumstances, I/O connectors in the course of the entrance panel are all however gone, which can require you to face up in an effort to use them. Relying on what a part of the desk your PC stands on, it could possibly additionally fall over in the event you stumble upon its higher half. Possibly it would not look good to you on a desk both.
There are shorter circumstances which might be rather more appropriate than most to be used on a desk. Listed below are among the better of them, for each funds, measurement requirement, or sort of PC.
Masthead credit score: oatsmalone
Greatest for Gaming
The Lian Li O11 Air Mini is without doubt one of the most compact circumstances that both help an ATX motherboard or Micro-ATX and a top-mounted radiator. The rear panel is modular, so you’ll be able to set up it in line with your present {hardware}. The case makes use of a dual-chamber design to save lots of top, with the PSU and as much as six SATA drives, of which as much as 4 3.5″ HDDs, within the different chamber.
After an preliminary recall and alternative of the mesh panels, airflow is nice with two 140mm followers within the entrance and a 120mm one on the rear. With an ATX motherboard, radiators of 240mm will be put in on the backside or on the facet (in the event you take away one of many dual-HDD plates), however 280mm ones can solely be put in within the entrance. With a Micro-ATX motherboard you may additionally be capable of set up the latter on high (in mATX mode) or on the backside (in ATX mode).
Aside from that, the facet window is product of tempered glass, and the underside mud filter is well detachable from the facet. The highest I/O contains three USB 3.0 ports, together with one Kind-C. The case is accessible in black or white, for $110 and $121 on Newegg, respectively.
Greatest Outdated-College
A case that just about made it into our record of greatest old-school circumstances, the Cooler Grasp HAF XB Evo contains two 5.25″ bays and 4 SATA drive bays (2 of which hot-swappable) in 3 detachable cages. In contrast to the Lian Li O11, this ATX case saves top by mounting the motherboard horizontally, on a detachable tray, above the drives and PSU.
The CPU and graphics card are stored cool with two 120mm followers within the entrance. These will be changed with a 240mm radiator or 140mm followers, however 280mm radiators aren’t formally supported, besides the Nepton 280L. You’ll be able to add a 200mm fan on high, a 120mm one on the rear, and two 80mm ones behind the SATA drive cages.
The entrance I/O may be very handy to make use of whereas sitting in entrance of the case. It solely contains Kind-A USB 3.0 connectors, however due to the 5.25″ bays you’ll be able to add any connector you need. Regardless of its measurement, the case is straightforward to hold due to giant handles on the perimeters.
Greatest Worth
You probably have a Micro-ATX motherboard, then the Thermaltake Core V21 will give you the most effective worth at $70. The case contains 5 enlargement slot covers, although mATX circumstances solely help 4 enlargement slots, in case you put in a multi-slot card within the backside slot.
This case would not simply appear to be a dice, but additionally works like one. Its fundamental physique will be put in in any orientation on the underside panel. You probably have a graphics card, the default orientation with the motherboard mounted horizontally will present the most effective distribution of weight (and a detachable filter for the PSU). If not, it’s possible you’ll wish to rotate the primary physique 90 levels in order that the PSU and the CPU cooler are each close to the underside. The Thermaltake brand is printed on a magnet which you can rotate accordingly.
The highest and facet panels are interchangeable, so you’ll be able to select the place to place the acrylic facet window (beware to not choke your graphics card with it). The opposite two panels supply giant vents with magnetic filters.
With a 200mm fan within the entrance, the V21 has no points with cooling. It’s also possible to set up a 120mm or 140mm fan on the rear, and a 280mm radiator in 3 completely different places. In a type of places, you’ll be able to set up it subsequent to a 240mm one!
The PSU chamber helps as much as six SATA drives, of which as much as three 3.5″ HDDs. The case solely provides Kind-A USB 3.0 and no 5.25″ bays (although the primary physique has the house for one), however for the value it is arduous to complain.
Most Compact
If you’d like absolutely the most compact case that may match a Micro-ATX motherboard, look no additional. This case would not even waste house on a PSU chamber, however places the PSU within the entrance, drawing air by the perimeters of the entrance panel and releasing it by the perforated high panel (the exterior energy twine nonetheless connects to the rear of the case). You probably have a tower-style CPU cooler, it’s possible you’ll wish to rotate it 90 levels in both path if doable, because it will not get direct airflow from the entrance.
The case solely comes with one 80mm rear fan, however you’ll be able to add one other one, in addition to three 120mm ones: 1 on high and a pair of on the backside. The underside spots can be used for SATA drives, and one other one will be put in behind the PSU. Except you utilize each of the underside spots for HDDs, you’ll be able to set up one other SSD below the PSU.
The entrance panel has two USB 3.0 Kind-A connectors on high. For about $70, it is a good worth. The primary characteristic fully lacking is devoted cable administration house, so you may wish to use a modular PSU with this case.
Greatest for NAS
Even in the event you want 10 disk drives in a single package deal, you do not have to purchase a full ATX case. The Fractal Design Node 804 can home 8 of these in two cages within the PSU chamber, and a pair of extra on the ground of the motherboard chamber. The entrance panel has house for two SATA SSDs and a slim optical drive.
Every chamber comes with its personal 120mm rear fan. Within the PSU chamber, you’ll be able to substitute it with a 140mm one. That chamber can even home a 280mm radiator on high (as an alternative of the drive cages…), whereas the primary chamber helps 240mm (or two 140mm followers) so long as your RAM is not too tall. Every chamber additionally helps two 120mm entrance followers (the motherboard chamber comes with one), however due to the form of the entrance panel, one in every chamber could be sufficient. That is additionally why we do not advocate putting in 240mm radiators within the entrance, although every chamber helps one.
Just like the ThermalTake Core V21, the case has 5 enlargement slot covers, however in the event you set up any card in it, it’s best to transfer the entrance fan to the underside of the panel to assist cooling it.
Every chamber additionally has its personal detachable mud filters on the backside and behind the entrance panel. The rear of the case features a bodily 3-speed fan controller, and on the facet of the entrance panel are two USB 3.0 Kind-A connectors.
Extra Options for Restricted Desk Areas
When you want your PC in your desk, however do not have the house for many of the circumstances we really useful, it’s possible you’ll must accept an everyday Micro-ATX case. Cooler Grasp provides two good choices with a 5.25″ bay within the MasterBox NR400 and Silencio S400.
When you do not want an exterior bay, the Fractal Design Meshify C Mini and Outline C Mini are good options. When you favor to avoid wasting cash, take a look at the corporate’s Focus G Mini.